This Week I Ate Dirt.

*correction from last week: we had meal appointments 5 of 7 days.

 

So this week was a little slow. Appointments fell through and we didn't teach very many lessons, but we had the opportunity to do some fun service!

 

Wednesday we had a special training with the Mission President in Fort Wayne, IN. It's always great to get together with our zone. We have some fantastic missionaries and it's a blessing to learn from them. :)

 

On Thursday we helped Sister Waite (a sister in the Peru ward) make applesauce and Saturday we picked peaches at a sister's home in Macy. I feel like a country girl, I love driving out here, the farms and fields are so beautiful.

 

It definitely feels like fall, which my companion isn't too happy about (she's a spring lover). But I love it. The air is crisp and cool and the leaves are turning reds and yellows and oranges. (Mom, I'm going to try and mail you one). I still get a thrill out of crunching them as we walk down the sidewalks. (They have sweet sidwalks here, there are a lot of patterned-brick walkways). Whether she likes fall or not, Sister Crosby and I are going to have fun this fall! (*fun fact* Sister Crosby's birthday is just 10 days before mine! October 15th. She and I will hopefully be companions until November.)

 

Even though this week was slow, it ended well. We had dinner with the elders and Brother and Sister Yard, a retired couple in the ward. They are a hoot--I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard in my life. (Oh, and I didn't eat real  dirt. Sister Yard served dirt pudding for dessert.) After dinner and personal study Sister Crosby and I decided to go out and do  some "finding." We didn't have any real referrals from ward members or investigators, so we did it the old fashioned way... tracting.

 

BOY OH BOY. There's a reason the leadership of the church has encouraged members to give referrals to missionaries. That is the way to find investigators. We started out in the ritzy-est (I know it's not a word, bear with me) neighborhood we could find. (Actually, a member told us about the neighborhood, we didn't know it even existed until Saturday night--and my companion has been in Peru for 5 months!) Anyway, we knocked on a few doors (15 or so), had a few slammed in our faces (What a lovely breeze!) and we continued. We were almost back to our car and we said "we'll do two more." after two more un-successes, we said "We can do one more." So we did. And I'm sure glad we did. We met a man named David, father of 2 little girls. We offered to teach him and his family how to hold a Family Home Evening. He asked for a card and we're going back to visit this week! :)

 

Next, we went to a neighborhood near the train tracks--the slums of Peru. There we met a man named Rafiel (pronounced Ray-ful) sitting on his porch. He's great. We're going back to see him this week. As we were walking away from his porch, I turned back and he was pointing across the street to another house where a man was out on his porch. Rafiel gave us a referral (we didn't even have to ask!) this man's name is Fred--and we'll be meeting with him and his wife again this week.

 

This week ended well. Sunday, sweet, sweet, Sunday.

 

If miracles happen in Peru, they're happening where you live too--just be looking for them. :)

 

Lots of love,

 

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

1858 South Business 31 Apt. 2D

Peru, Indiana 46970

 

P.S. Funny story of the week: While we were walking down the street a few shirtless men working on a roof saw us place a mormon.org card. As we walked past the house they were roofing, one called out and said "leave one on the van, too, especially if it's a personal number!" We did... hah. We haven't heard from them yet.

 

...such is the life of a sister missionary.

Open Your Mouths: The Missionary Double Meaning

To my dearest family and friends,

To most missionaries Doctrine and Covenants 33:8-10's message gives them encouragement for sharing the gospel. Well, here in Peru "open your mouths and they shall be filled" takes on a different meaning. In the past week we've eaten with members 4 of 7 days.

This week started out a little slow, but ended well. 

Tuesday we were able to meet with a recent convert and her husband who is not a member. We invited him to sit in on her lesson and he agreed to meet again.

Wednesday we had a district meeting in Huntington, IN. My district is awesome (4 elders, 4 sisters). It was great to learn with them. Brother Stapleton agreed to be baptized! :) He'll be baptized on September 28th.

Thursday--service is fun! We helped with bingo at a nursing home and made applesauce with Sister Waite in our ward. We've adopted her as our unofficial "mission mom."

Saturday we met with a new family--a mom and 3 kids. :) and we had an awesome lesson with Brother Stapleton!

But Sunday was the best.

Yesterday we were surprised by a thunderstorm while out walking. We had just been to visit a less active member when we  met a young man, Danny, on his front porch. We had been talking to him for about 60 seconds when the downpour started. We were more than a little wet when we left, but running through the rain to the car was refreshing. :)

And after our dinner appointment at Sister Smith-Carroll's home (Sister Smith-Carroll is sister Waite's mom) we went out to the car and checked our phone. We had a voicemail from a less active member, Brother Smith. Earlier this week we'd left a message on his front door (he wasn't home). We called him back and made an appointment.  He expressed an interest in being sealed to his parents (his father passed away recently), and wants to come back to church, he's just not sure how to go about it. We assured him that he can come back (even after 40 years!) God loves all his children and doesn't give up on them. There is always a way for them to progress, to change, to turn to Him. I love that about the Gospel.

Miracles happen in Peru, Indiana. I know they do.

A week ago a sister in our ward noticed a new family moving in across the street. Even though she has trouble walking because of MS, she baked some banana bread and took it to the family to welcome them to the neighborhood. Yesterday we (Sister Crosby and I) went with this sweet sister to visit the family again. The mother of the family said that she had been having doubts about moving her family here. But when the sister brought her family banana bread, she knew she had made the right decision.

Our Heavenly Father knows us. He knows our fears and uncertainties, He is aware of us, and He knows our needs. He wants to bless us.

What a week.  Tender mercies in the form of banana bread, shirtless men/underwear loungers peeking around the front door to talk to us, and the best pumpkin ice cream I've ever tasted, it's all part of this great adventure. But the best part is the people.

I hope this email isn't too long! :)

Love from Peru,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

1858 South Business 31 Apt. 2D

Peru, Indiana 46970

P.S. I've never seen so many metal stars in my life. Apparently it's a rite of passage in Peru. If you ain't got a star on your house, you ain't livin'. (I'll have to send pictures.)

Deer and Banana Bread

Two more photos from Sarah Jane:)

-The view from my apartment in Peru, Indiana (Fun fact, the residents of Peru pronounce it P-Roo) They have cute accents out here. Also, can you see the deer? :)

-Banana Bread in a mason jar: it works! We made loaves of banana bread for our investigators and delivered them Sunday morning before church. we had leftover batter, so I decided to bake it in a mason jar. :) Ingenuity at its finest.

Saving Souls, Not Salad. 09.09.13

Dear Family and Friends,

A few days ago I arrived in the Cincinnati airport in Kentucky (go figure), and was  greeted by the mission president and his wife. 39 missionaries (elders and sisters) stayed in the mission home that night. The next day they shipped us to Centerville, OH where we attended the transfer meeting. :)

I never guessed I would go "foreign" while serving in the United States.  If you're wondering why I'd say that, I'll tell you: I'm in Peru.

Peru, Indiana, that is. I've never seen so much corn in my life. The sky is so big and everything is green. The drive to Peru was a long one (4ish hours) and I loved seeing the cute barns in Ohio. It's definately "the country" out here and I love it.

My companion, Sister Crosby, has been out for 10 months. she's from Eager, AZ and was a student at BYUI before her mission. She and I get along really well. I'm a lucky girl.

This week we've taught a lot of lessons. One of our investigators, Derrick, is progressing really well. He's been taking the lessons for about 3 months and knows so much. He just needs the courage to take the next step.

Also, on Friday we met the mother of a recent convert's friend--her name is Donna. She is struggling with a wayward daughter.

On Saturday after dinner with the Waite family (an awesome member family that came with us to Derrick's las lesson) we went to the trailer park where she lives to visit her and share the story of the Prodigal Son with her. After we shared the story with her, Sister Rush (a member that came with us) shared her experience with a son who had strayed (he was into drugs, etc) but eventually returned. As we left that night we were grateful that Heavenly Father had inspired us to ask Sister Rush to come with us. Her empathy was what Donna needed.

When we got home the leftover salad from the Waites was wilted, but that didn't matter. We're out here saving souls, not salad.

Donna came to church yesterday (and so did her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend). It was a miracle. We had 4 investigators at church yesterday! :)

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ full-time is so rewarding. By the time we get home to our apartment every night, I'm exhausted, but it's all worth it.

-Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

Don't forget to write!

P.S. Mom, you were right--the bugs bite here. I have 11 bug bites. We live right next to the Wabash River. :) Google it.

My companion told me there's a song about the "beautiful Wabash River in the moonlight." I've decided that "in the moonlight" is the only time it could be considered beautiful. (only joking!)

 Sarah Jane with her MTC district and companion:)

Sarah Jane with her companion in Peru, Indiana:)

Miracles Happen in the MTC, did you know? 08.31.13

So here I am at the Provo West MTC! The first week was a bit of an adjustment for me, but I'm doing much better (thanks to lots of prayers, I'm sure).

I have so many things to say, my thoughts are all over the place, so bear with me. Being here in the MTC is wonderful, I have grown so much in such a short amount of time, I know that it's only because of my Savior. I have truly felt my Heavenly Father's love being poured out on me as I have gone through adjusting.  Being able to see God's love for others has helped me to know His love for me.

For the first 5 days I had a companion from New Mexico, Sister Wheeler is 21. On the first Sunday Branch President Oswald felt that we needed to switch companions. My new companion, Sister Chapa, is from Payson, she's 19, and she's an angel. I can testify to you, God loves you and he answers prayers--often through other people.

My district is made up of 4 elders and 4 sisters: Elder Wes Glissmeyer from Kaysville, Elder Duncan Jolley from Las Vegas, Elder Kevin Ralphs from California, and Elder Scott Jackson from Idaho. Sister Leslie Shaw from California, Sister Wheeler from New Mexico, Sister Chapa and me. :) We all get along splendidly. We have two teachers, Brother Morriss and Brother White. (Brother Tyler White actually lived down the street from me on Condo Row! We were in the same stake over the summer, and I never even knew it!) 

I have learned so much from being here, and I am truly excited to help others come unto Christ.  I will be leaving for Ohio this Wednesday at 5:30 am (early, I know!) I am excited for a change of scene! :) 

Remember what tender mercies, miracles, and answers to prayer you've had in the past. God loves you and is watching over you. Sister Wheeler shared an analogy with me that I really love: Heavenly Father is our Father, and as a father, He aches when you struggle and don't come to Him. He wants to help you, and He will. Just trust in Him.

Love from the MTC,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis